After 24 years with Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe, CEO Aiden Mhere retires

By Ellen Mlambo | Masvingo Mirror |

MASVINGO- Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Operations Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Aiden Mhere is retiring on March 31, this year and will be replaced by Tendai Masawi.

Head Corporate and Industry Affairs Team Dr Dahlia Garwe confirmed the development to The Mirror in a telephone interview.

A statement released by Tongaat Hulett Limited says that Mhere is going into early retirement after serving the sugar producing company for 24 years. He will stay on as an Independent Consultant to the group for a year and assist on issues of strategic importance.

The Chairpersons and Boards of Directors of Hippo Valley Estates Ltd and Triangle Ltd applauded him for his contribution in the development and rolling out of the 4 000 hectare Kilimanjaro Sugarcane Project.

“Aiden Mhere has elected to proceed on early retirement on 31 March 2024, to allow him to focus on the next phase of his career, following a sterling contribution to the Group over 24 years.

“Over the last 30 years Aiden contributed in executive roles in the maize meal, flour, cooking oil, sugar and ethanol sectors, having joined TA Holdings Ltd in 1995 and before crossing over to Anglo American Zimbabwe Corporation on 1 November 1999, to provide transformational leadership support to the CEO of Hippo.

“The organisation was integrated into Tongaat Hulett Limited and he served in several roles. He was appointed as CEO and MD of Hippo and Triangle on 1 December 2019. Aiden has served on several local and regional boards over the years.

“Aiden will be remembered as a respectful, practical and reassuring optimist who played a leading role in collaborative stakeholder engagements involving Government, Farmers, Unions, Community Leaders, Shareholders, the Media and Business Partners, through the years.

“A highlight of his career was his guidance in the conception, development and roll out of the iconic 4 000ha Kilimanjaro Sugarcane Project, officially launched by His Excellency, President Dr E D Mnangagwa, in November 2019, a worthy example of a post-independence private sector led, broad based economic empowerment program,” reads part of the statement.

Masawi joined Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe as Milling Operations Director in September 2012.

He holds an M Sc. Chemical Engineering (Sugar Technology) degree and is a seasoned sugar technologist with 35 years of regional industrial and corporate management experience. He has held various roles within the Sugar value chain.

“Tendai is no stranger to the Zimbabwean operations, which he joined after fulfilling various roles at ZSR Corporation Limited (ZSR), where he started his career in the Sugar Industry in 1988 as a Chemist at Harare Refinery. From there, he picked up several roles such as Operations Manager and General Manager at ZSR Bulawayo and Harare Refineries; and later as Chief Operations Officer and Executive Director for Star Africa Corporation until July 2012.

“He joined Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe as Milling Operations Director in September 2012 to be later appointed as Executive: Milling Operations and Technical Services from 2018. He then moved to Mozambique as Managing Director for Tongaat Hulett Mozambique.

“There he and his team successfully implemented the turnaround of the Mozambican operations and today Xinavane is one of the best performing mills within the Industry.

“In 2021 he was promoted to the Chief Technical Officer of Tongaat Hulett group. Working closely with the South African operations, him and his team successfully contributed to the turn around and improved performance and efficiencies of our South African mills,” read the statement.

Garwe said Mhere’s retirement is a huge loss to the company and to the sugar industry.

“It’s a huge loss to the company and the sugar industry. He is one of the gurus in the industry and the good thing is that he is going to be remaining as a consultant so people can benefit from his great knowledge of the industry.

“He is experienced and he was an asset to the company and the organisation will certainly feel the loss. We welcome the incoming CEO who also has been in the sugar industry for a long time. We feel that the two of them working together for 12 month will certainly benefit the company,” said Garwe.